§ 55. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the President of the Board of Trade why the time between the original application for tenancy of the advance factory in Fraser-burgh and its final handing over to the company concerned was so lengthy.
§ Mr. DarlingThe factory was handed over to the tenant as soon as it had been completed to their particular requirements.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is much concern and feeling locally at the delay, and also that this factory has still not gone into production 15 months after the original application? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Department seems to think the company was responsible in some way since February, whereas the company claims that it was not until December of last year that it finally got the factory? Will the Minister maximise his efficiency in handling this?
§ Mr. DarlingThe hon. Gentleman has got his facts wrong. The firm submitted its application on 1st February, 1966. The allocation was made to it on 15th March, 1966, and the work of completing the factory to the company's requirements was finished on 30th June, 1966. It is true that since then the company has run into trading difficulties which have prevented the factory from going ahead as we would have wished, but we hope that those trading difficulties will soon be overcome.